CNC X2 -> Taig upgrade?

[sansbury]

I'd like some opinions from users who are familiar with both the Taig and X2 mills. I've had an X2 I CNC'd for about two years and continue to be frustrated by two things:

1. Accuracy: I have Roton ball screws on it (with oversized balls), but it still takes a lot of work to get better than +/- .005" tolerances out of it.

2. Travel: Y-travel is limited to 3", and I can only use about 6" of the X unless I loosen the gibs up more than I like.

There are things I can do to improve both, but they involve spending money and/or time, and I'm wondering whether it's worth it.

Most of my work involves cutting profiles out of aluminum stock, sometimes up to 1" thick, more often .500". I do some brass and steel, but not nearly as much. My workhorse tool is a .250" 2- or 3-flute endmill, and I use fly cutters and boring heads occasionally.

What concerns me about the Taig is:

1. Size/Rigidity: All I know is that it weighs substantially less than the X2--how does it really compare? What sort of feeds/DOCs are experienced users getting in aluminum?

2. Backlash: How often do the brass nuts require adjustment to keep it under a few thous?

3. Tooling: I use Tormach tooling on my X2 with tool height compensation, and LOVE it. My parts often involve 4-5 tools if we consider roughing, finishing, chamfering, and drilling. How do Taig users handle this?

Due to space and budget constraints, I can't go larger than the X2 or more spendy than the Taig, and if I do switch, I want something I can bolt my steppers onto and run, not a new project. So I think that means it's keep working on the X2 or Taig...

[TOC Admin]

I had the X3 but now own 2 taigs...The biggest difference is Noise,the X3 geared head was incredibly Loud,and couple that with cutting...WOW

Honestly I can do everything on my Taigs that I did with my X3, and the tolerance it holds is much the same...+-.005 or less all day long ,My X3 was used when I bought it though... I have had 1 of my Taigs for about 16 months and it has been used at least 8hrs a day for more than 1/2 of that time and have yet to adjust the brass nuts.....not to say they don't need adjusting i have not seen the need to.

If you go with a Taig get the Gecko driver for it..

I have 8 inches of Y and 17 inches of X on one of mine...all you need is longer Leadscrews and Shim the Headstock out some....you do lose some rigidity but not much

I have used a 1/4 em ramping in to .125 doc at 6 ipm and cut at 9-11 ipm with good results at 5000 rpm if I remember correctly....you could run it faster but it gets pretty loud so this was a nice Medium.....I was pretty much getting same results from my X3 but it was much Louder..LOL

EDIT...oh this was on Alum, for tool changes I use Collars on my tools

[kanton]

TOC Admin,

It is my understanding that the Taig CNC mill maximum travels are X = 9.5", Y = 5.5", Z = 6.0".

You stated:"I have 8 inches of Y and 17 inches of X on one of mine...all you need is longer Leadscrews and Shim the Headstock out some....you do lose some rigidity but not much".

Is there any detailed description of how this was accomplished and much it cost? Also, how much could the Z axis travel be increased and how would this be accomplished?

Thanks.

[TOC Admin]

TOC Admin,

It is my understanding that the Taig CNC mill maximum travels are X = 9.5", Y = 5.5", Z = 6.0".

You stated:"I have 8 inches of Y and 17 inches of X on one of mine...all you need is longer Leadscrews and Shim the Headstock out some....you do lose some rigidity but not much".

Is there any detailed description of how this was accomplished and much it cost? Also, how much could the Z axis travel be increased and how would this be accomplished?

Thanks.

Well I need to give the Credit to Marty (MLPF1) he is building a Modified Super Taig with Tons of Travel...He has not been around for awhile now,Last I knew he was Sick. Do a search for super taig and you can see what he was building....or member mlpf1

The longer leadscrews were bought from taig with bearing carrier and motor mounts for $80 ea....you have to order while they are Making leadscrews though, they can just make longer ones for you...

on the Y I brought my Table out one set of holes on the frame and added a 1 1/2 inch spacer under the table stop and brought my Dovetail on the head out 1 1/2....I think the Leadscrew is 3 inches longer can't remember for sure......you can do it without bringing the table out, but your tool will not be centered on the table in the Middle of the Stroke, Meaning your Bigger parts will hang off the table more on one side than the other

on the X I bought a 5 inch longer leadscrew and put a 2 1/2 inch spacer under the Stop with longer screws...When traveled all the way to the right the ways are exposed but has not been a Problem as long as I keep it clean

I was worried about how much Ridigity I would lose but its really not that much at all and now I can make alot of the Bigger stuff that I couldn't before

I only have the standard 6 inches on Z, its plenty for me

Final cost was $160 for Leadscrews and about $5.00 for Longer bolts

[TOC Admin]

check out this post for Martys setup....Where is ol' Marty anyway....Hope he is OK

Custom Z Axis For Taig

[fretsman]

....Where is ol' Marty anyway....Hope he is OK

Agreed, Brian, I hope he's ok as well, he's a great guy-

Dave

[TOC Admin]

Agreed, Brian, I hope he's ok as well, he's a great guy-

Dave

I sent him a pm on TOC and he just replied ..

Yep still around on Oxygen 24/7 and about 9 diff, meds but I am still here LOL.

[fretsman]

I sent him a pm on TOC and he just replied ..

Yep still around on Oxygen 24/7 and about 9 diff, meds but I am still here LOL.

Good to hear, Brian, thanks for taking the time-

Dave

[kanton]

TOC Admin,

Thanks for the information.

I assume you are still using the stock Taig motor etc.

Could you provide the part numbers for the things you ordered from Taig? Also pictures of your modified Taig mill would be helpful.

Marty's post "Custom Z Axis For Taig" ended abruptly. Was this due to his illness? I found this post very interesting as he was extending the Z axis and installing a larger motor. Are there other posts about similar modifications?

I also hope Marty is OK.

Thanks again for your help.

[TOC Admin]

TOC Admin,

Thanks for the information.

I assume you are still using the stock Taig motor etc.

Could you provide the part numbers for the things you ordered from Taig? Also pictures of your modified Taig mill would be helpful.

Marty's post "Custom Z Axis For Taig" ended abruptly. Was this due to his illness? I found this post very interesting as he was extending the Z axis and installing a larger motor. Are there other posts about similar modifications?

I also hope Marty is OK.

Thanks again for your help.

there are no part #'s as its a Custom leadscrew from Taig....like I said they will only make longer one if they are setup for them and making them at the time....I got Lucky they were making them when I called about them..

Sorry no pics and My Camera quit working a few weeks ago...very simple though

yes stock motor...yea I believe Marty got sick toward the end of his build

[kanton]

TOC Admin,

Thanks for the information.

Are the standard and custom leadscrews from Taig ballscrews or acme screws? Are the same types of screws used on both manual and CNC mills?

What is the relationship between Taig and Microproto?

If I wanted to build a CNC mill something like Marty's would I be better off starting with a mill from Taig, Microproto or Deepgroove?

Is the Closed Loop Servo MicroMill DSLS 3000 System substantially better than the MicroMill 2000 both with 200oz steppers? Or would I be better off with the Deepgroove system that uses a Gecko g540 stepper driver and Nema 23 270oz bipolar stepper motors for x, y, z at a lower price?

Thanks again.

[Jeff-Birt]

I answered your question about the relationship between MicrtoProto and Taig in another post (same family company and great people). I just noticed your question about stepper motors. I have found that a 166oz-in double stack NEMA 23 provides superior performance on a Taig with the stock leadscrews than a 270ish oz-in motor.

I put a few videos on Youtube of my mill with these motors: "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzrBcXCNDhU"]YouTube- 90 IPM SS